The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-02
REST.
The Boon that all Mankind Seeks.
IGreenville Refiector.1

lGreenville Reflector.
''Oh. some seek bread-no more-life's
mere subsistence!
Ard some seek wealth and ease-the
common quest;
And some seek fame, that hoyers in the
distance;
But ali, at last, seek rest!''
Ave! when we are finishing up this
Book of Life, as we see, with eyes
grown misty with nameless longing,
the last page completed and gently
press the eternal blotter OF Death over
the last line; when our pleasures have
paled; when life's fairest and brightest
chaplets of flowers are withered and
dead, leaving only 'ashes of roses to
mark the spot where they once bloomed,
SO sweet and fragrant, when life's fruits
are bitter as the apples gathered from
the Dead Sea shore; when we search
in vain for the waters of Lethe to steep
our senses in a draft Of forgetfulness
at that day, even those to whom
change and excitement and gayety
were existence, mIast turn away their
weary eyes, their dropping limbs, and
sigh for rest.
Yet, it's sweeter to nave earned that
guerdon-that calm and repose which
/ follow toll. whether it be of the body
or mind, the tired hand or the tired
brain; each are glad to lay down the
burden of the day and seek a rest.
Forgetting the toll, the task behind,
hard though they may have been-they
are of the past-and sleeping all In
the dreamy oblivion of sweet rest
For the nonce too happy to look ahead
and trouble the mind with the cares
and tolls that lie before us, we rest
peacefully and sweetly.
IL am tired. Heart and feet
| Turn from busy mart and street;
] lam tired rest is sweet.
But what of the 0utW01u heart,
laden with anxious care, and busy,
wandering thoughts? Only can it
breathe a prayer in words such as
Richter's:
.sOh, Rest! thou soft word! Au
tumnal flower of Eden! moonlight of
the spirit! when wilt thou hold our
head that it may be still, and our
heart that it may cease beating ?
Thou comest often and goest often,
but only down below with sleep and
death thou abidest''
1t is not for us-this blessed privl-
lege-to often indulge our senses SO
blisstully. We can not tell why, and
yet twas ever SO:
"Some find work where some find rest,
And SO the weary world goes on
sometimes wonder which is best
The answer comes when life is done.
"Some sleep on while others keep
The vigilS of the true and braves
They will not rest till roses creep
Around their name above a grave
And yet all cur wonderings can bu
be answered at best by vague conjec
lures, sometimes wild and utterly i'm
probable. We can not know why
this is so. We can only say and art
conscious of the fact, in the beautiful
words of our lamented Southern Poet
Priest, Father Ryan:
"My feet are wearied and my hands ar
My soul oppressed
And l desire, what l have long desired
ReSt-Only rest
. NV way has wound across the desert years
And cares nfeSt
My path, and through the flowing OF ho
tears
l pine for rest
Wandering far away from home
from our native land-the place O
our fathers, the feet of our mothers
the mind may for time become s.
engrossed by the sight of new scene
and faces, new friends and acqualnt
ances as to forget; but soon, ah! to
, soon, we are longing for "Rest-onl
rest" And to the returning traveller
the sweet vision of his own dear hom
has beguiled away the fatigue of man
dreary mile, while the stars hav
sung of restfulness as they cheered h
' lonely path. Or the mariner, home
ward bound, long watched and waite
, for-all his past toll and danger al
f forgotten as he nears that sweet have
r OF rest.
And upon final rest let us llste
: to Father Ryan:
.'And l am restless still; twill soon |
Ger;
For down the west
Iife's sun is setting, and / see the shol
Where | shall rest
: And now, just one tender, toucl
l. ing quotation from Mrs. Brownln:
e and | am done Hear her:
= "Oh. princely lot. Oh, blissful art
!. Fen while by sense Of change opprest,
u Thus to forecast in heart
III Heavens age of fearless rest
5, And 10Y to think Gods greatness
lie Flows round our faithful quest,
T. And for earth's Testlessness,
Al lie gives His rest :"
IN An exchange says; Livery man
= veres and loves q pure woman; but
Al takes a christian TO hate fallen one